 fed up with the everyday grind Tired out from the summer heat Want to get away from it all? We offer you escape Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure You are making your painful way over the great India desert Alone and dying of thirst While behind you pursuing you Are the fanatical coffees who once bowed to you as king and now call for your life Tonight we escape to India and two soldiers of fortune who pushed fate too far as Rudyard Kipling told it in his famous story The man who would be king One Saturday night. It was my unpleasant duty to put the paper to bed alone It was a pitchy black night and stifling as a night can be in India and June It was very still Save for the ticking of the clock above my desk Which seemed to shatter the black heat of the night as the hands crept toward 3 a.m. And then from the passage outside my door. I heard voices Yeah, who's there only yes, and who are you? Oh, so you don't remember us, right? No, I can't say the job per border then job per border and having the authorities turn us back for impersonating newspaper men You was people and then there was the train. Yeah off of which you had us thrown if I remember correct Oh, wait that flaming red hair that bald head Daniel Dravid and peachy. Conor. The same well what you two want this time if it's money I haven't cut it and if it's a fight. It's too beastly hot Yeah, you can rest yourself easy sir because we have come asking for not accept some information We've been all over this country and we've concluded that injure isn't big enough for such as Daniel and me So we are going away to be kings kings in our own divine right What I We shall be king. Yeah, we've signed a solemn contract each to help the other And neither of us to look at liquor or women until we have become king I've never heard of such a fantastic idea. Now. Well, what do you want of me? No, but a look at such maps of Kaffiristan as you might have a bat maps of Kaffiristan That's where we decided to go Don't you realize that not one single Englishman has ever gone into the Karakfiristan mountains and lived at Mount again You're a good deal more likely to become dead men and kids anyway I don't believe you have the slightest intention of traveling a mile outside of Delhi Then you should come down to the Sarai marketplace in the morning Don't where the caravans leave for the north now look look you to I'm a newsman not a no man Now why should I come down to that filthy pest? I'm not so sure that you're either What do you mean? You say you're a newsman But here's the chance to see the start of the greatest story of all time And you'd pass it up because you're too blasted lazy to get up that early in the morning come along Yeah, but if you should have a change of heart come to the Sarai in the morning and see whether we'd be liars or not And so they left those two lovable scoundrels and I sat alone in my office thinking the kings of Kaffiristan Kings indeed But then perhaps just perhaps They might pull it off and it would be something to cable home And so it was that the next morning I was making my way through the dirty milling crowds of the Sarai marketplace You should not laugh at him say the witless around the protection of Allah quite so boy Quite so who is the fellow anyway a mad presaib was arrived only this morning from a smear Oh, I see I see You sahib come look at my camels loaded with toys to please the eye of an army Yeah, now now go about your business. I haven't any use for toys. These are wondrous toys indeed sahib Fit for a king of Kaffiristan. What? My good Lord Daniel Dravet quiet come along. I have two camels just beyond the wall here The blessings of pure car on the gracious sahib the consents to look at the poor toys of a priest from Arj me Over this way. Where's Conor Henry? Yeah, we are Permit me to present my servant as a me a card at your service governor Well, how do you like our disguises? They pass in if they fool this crowd in the Sarai They're probably good enough to get you across the border and good enough to get you killed Yeah, getting killed is no part of the contract peachy and me draw it up Although perhaps killing fits in with our plans in a different sense Feel around underneath the toys there on the camel bags My good Lord the rifles 20 brand new lien fuels with ammunition to match And 20 good reasons to make your death certain any patron of the hill tribes would kill his own mother to get a rifle now Who would arm a poor mad priest sahib Allah protects me Mad is right. Yeah, and so was Lord Clive and Rhodes and Bonaparte Drive out the camel's peachy. We have a long way to go before we become kings As I stood and listened to the camel bells fade away in a distance. I wondered I Wondered if it might not be a glorious thing to go to kafiristan and be a king Three years pass in India much as they pass in any other land it grows hot then the rains come and then they heat again some kernel at a hill station puts down an uprising and New vice Roy comes out from London the paper Julie records the death of a Sultan in Rajputana and the trees in the courtyard grow a few feet taller and Finally time in its circle turned up another night much like the one three years before Once again, I sat alone in the office listening to the clock and waiting for some unimportant item to come over the wire from Europe It was long after midnight when my office door slowly opened Well, I say you might knock first, you know knock knock Good Lord man. What's wrong? Oh? I You don't know who I am do you know? No, I haven't the faintest idea. Oh, but here you'd better sit down old fellow. You're in a bad way. Yes, sir Thank you It's a whole year. I've been walking Right here in this very office. We settle it You setting right there and giving us the maps And you've been sitting there ever since Three years no No, no Man couldn't change that much in three years You're not peachy carnahen. Yes. I was the king of kafiristan Me and Daniel traveled real crown kings. We was Just as true as gospel and what in the name of heaven have they done to you peachy peachy I knew peachy carnahen once He's a king Who is a real golden crown on easy told me he does? He's dead now. No. No. No. No, no your peachy carnahen. You are I must pull yourself together poor poor myself You've got to keep looking into me eyes Yeah, maybe everything won't go to pieces. All right. All right. No, tell me what happened to peachy We left the caravan at Jagdala, and we struck off into the halls alone Yes, go on weeks. It was we traveled Daniel and me first there wasn't no roads in after a while no food But there was always the drums Sometimes there was close Sometimes father off Most of the time we could hear them somewhere Yeah, no, it's no place to be stopping up with it. I'm feeling it's no use Daniel What's got into all the poor beasts are done in and starved same as ourselves. Oh got no further and we'll go on with Adam I've not come this far to die on the side of a mountain you wait Look Daniel over the edge of them rocks. Oh Oh Men they are Says a score or more of them and one goes ahead of the rest in naught But bows and errors they got a pair of the rifles peachy right you are Daniel It's now that we stop to become kings here here and some cartridges too easy now peachy I'll drop the stragglers the rear first then we'll lay a few at their feet. No arm to the one in front We may need him Hold it Daniel Look at him. Ah flat on the bloomin faces. It's their leader. He's coming out alone Well and good and we'll go partway to meet him peachy, but keep your rifle by look at him Daniel He's as fair as us with yellow air. Oh, so he is Part of the lost tribes these people are stopped. I await your command for you who speak with the voice of thunder By the lord airy peachy, we're in luck. It's the old afghan tongue. He speaks Speak up. Who are you and whence do you come? I am high priest and the chief of the village of Bushkay a Journey of only a few hotbeats this bush guy. How many people they are numbered in the thousands There are more villagers in the hills more than a man has fingers and toes. Yeah, you're that peachy Here's our kingdom made to order and you You're going to take us to bash guy. Do you understand? I Understand the voice of thunder that you speak. Oh, he's a smooth one peachy. He knows a thing or two What's your name? That's too long Hey, what hey, we'll call him peachy. He has the look about him of an old soldering friend of ours Billy fish so he does We bestow a name on you from now on you'll be Billy fish and put this on your drums Tell him two kings have come out of the mountaintops Two kings that speak in words of thunder. So the earth trembles Tell them two kings have come to Kaffiristan At you peachy Daniel Why are you sitting out here in the dark? I've been thinking man has to stop and think sometimes But anything special Daniel look at him peachy Look at that blink and campfires are gleaming in the dark like the jewels in a crown. Yes Daniel You're done a fine job for sure all 23 villages. You're joined together as what it is the army you trained to be Thankful it 2000 men with a fair knowledge of better now some of them's a bit green at it yet Yeah, there are now every man Jack woman and child. We own them body and soul. Yes We're kings now Daniel not proper Kings yet, but we will be yeah sooner than you think bitchy How's that now Billy fish told me something today that fair amaze me these people know the craft I mean they're free maces Daniel is I'm possible so well me it's gospel true He give the grip and everything it's all the craft is older than the memory of men and Up here in the hills. They've been preserving it all these years Why some of the eye priests know up through the fellow craft, but they don't know the third degree You see it peachy. They don't know the third degree, but we do Daniel What is it? You're fixing to do do we're going to be proper Kings We've got them going and coming now I'm going to turn the whole country into one grand large raise some of the priests to the third degree and For me, I'll be the grand master of Kaffir is done. Are you ain't got the right to we've never been officers in no lodge Right. What's a king got to do with asking for a right? I'm against it Daniel It's no good to go fooling around with the craft. You talk like an old woman The thing will work. I know it will we'll make it a bloom and sedimentary regular aprons with the symbols and the marks All for us peachy That King's a kaffir is time Everything is prepared master and the priests and the people wait well having much longer Billy Yeah, now peachy. How do you like me apron? Yeah, it's a wondrous sight for fair Daniel made a white omen skin it is and the master's mark with emerald studded the mark You know the meaning of the mark what I do What's got into you Billy? It is a thing that's passing strange master. That's strange and rubbish. Come along now Ready peachy right with you Daniel then out we go onto the temple steps And we'll give them what for not the blinking eyes out. That's what we'll do Look at them peachy right down on their blooming knees and yelling their fool. I don't cause a good thing to be a king Daniel The mark behold the mark Yeah, now what's wrong with the priest Billy it looks like trouble Daniel no Stand where you are master They recognize the mark. Yeah that great stone on the floor. Why did they turn it over wait? Oh, it's the same he bears the mark Speak up Billy fish. What's the meaning of it? See for yourself Look Daniel Carved on the back of the stone It is the master's mark all right and the same as the sign you wear Only a few of the priests have known of the hidden mark on the stone What does it mean? The many who have doubted you are a god doubt no longer And you Billy what do you think? I muster I think that now It is the time for these Daniel Golden crowns. Hi. How they glitter Fit for the brow of the king. It's what we came for here now. Put them on we'll crown ourselves in our own right I'll listen to them You know something peachy We come here to be kings and that we are all right But blamed if we ain't a couple of bloomin gods to boot with a million people bowing on their knees Well enough peachy so it was gods you became as well as kings, but then what happened what became of daniel dravet Dravet dravet I knew daniel dravet once He's a king now daniel is Where's a golden crown? Peachy peachy try to pull yourself together now. Yes. I'll try good Now you became kings you and daniel kings of all kafiristan. He was a fine figure daniel was With his red aid wearing that golden crown He kept himself aloof from the people so to speak when he walked out in front of the temple They fared a crawl on their stomachs to worship him. Yes, but what happened man? happened Well, I I figure mostly it was a winter come in Winds was starting up and Clads was blowing down from the north Oh, it could blow beastly cold that winter wind Who's out there That's you billy can't found it anyway Yeah now watch this I have brought you food master stew of the wild sheep With curry and rice Up off your knees girl bring it inside. Thank you master Place it there Hmm Yeah, no You're a well favored wench I do not understand Why are you crawling on your knees? It is a fitting way to approach the god of kafiristan. Hmm. What's your name girl? Marum of danger Marum, huh? You married It has not yet been my happy fortune master You afraid of me You are a god. I mean How do I seem to you? You find me pleasing or what? Your face Is more wondrous than the noonday sun And you look The look of eagles Well Very well You may leave now. Thank you master Hmm Marum marum Peche Peche Oh as you calling me daniel All the foods here, right? Huh good Mark that window son You know winter's about due to strike and fill the passes with snow There'll be little moving about before spring. Yeah, you're right Peche I decided to take a wife But you can't do it daniel. We made a contract that was till we was kings Well kings we've been these many months now snow good. I'll tell you now. I'm against it against it You was against using the craft too, but look what you've done for us. This is different Billy fish will tell you no the same as I do Billy fish there. Who's the king here him or me? My mind's made up Three days from now. I shall have me a wife And you can put it on the drums and tell every blighter out there in the hills The kingdom of kafiristan It's gonna have a queen Let's keep an impeachy They should have brought her in half an hour ago. I don't know daniel How about you Billy fish? You put them up to stall and off Deliberate like certain preparations must be made master She's across the court with some of the priests. Maybe they're trying to buck her up a bit daniel She thinks she's going to die. You know die indeed. Why are you master? It is against the laws of heaven for a woman to marry a god I'm not a god. I'm a man. You know that by now Billy. No And I should not want to think so master But either way this can mean only trouble I beg you to reconsider and I beg you to keep your mouth shut Billy. I'm through waiting I'm going over there to talk to the master, please. Oh, we've got to go with him Billy I think it's gonna mean trouble, but come on How many men can you depend on no more than 20 with rifles? Most of my men are in boshkai. Then what shall we do? We shall have to make a run for it. I fear we might be safe in boshkai Oh now you're bundling fools bring out the girl Huh Well now that's better Here girl This is no way for a bride to behave Oh a smile now And give us a kiss Oh The wench has bitten me the blood master. Don't let them see the blood. Look see the blood He's not a god. There is everybody only a man He blasted what is this rot? I said it is too late back Daniel. They're coming with knives. They can't do this. I am the king. I must run for it master. Come on Daniel. Come on Gun-founded evens I'll come back I'll come back and pick the blasted edging. That's what I'll do. Yes, Daniel. I will be back. All right How much further Billy? Only a short way beyond this ridge master. Well So far so good Huh At least them blooming drums has stopped. Well, we're at the top Daniel. Yeah And our right good climate's been Oh wait Look, it seems the drums have come before us muster Cut off No less than a thousand of them Standing there quiet like With them wicked long knives in their ends There'll be no getting past them Daniel. No We're done for Go back Billy fish. Take your man away with you Go with him peachy It's me. They want I did it Me the king. No, Dan I'm sticking with you Billy fish you clear out. I am your friend I stay with you You're a good man Billy They're coming now Daniel. Yeah peachy. Forget it Daniel. I'll forgive you freely fully Then let them come There'll be one thing they can't change peachy We've been kings Kings in our own right Kings Yes It's sliced open poor Billy fish like a blooming earring. They did Here in the snow and the rocks. Good lord, man But you peachy you got away from them Got away from him. Did I oh no This strongly out on a tree I drove nails right through me and said didn't you see look think But I fooled them all right because the morning come and I I wasn't dead And then I made them think I'd I lost my senses And there was a freight to army because I was protected by Allah Cut me down then and After a while Let me go. You poor devil What have driven what happened to Daniel? Daniel Daniel's a king He wears a golden crown. No no now. Now what happened to him? He's never left me All them long months Walking on the road back. He kept me safe The mountains they danced at night, but Daniel held up his hand and Peachy came along bent double I never let go of Daniel's hand Hey, he's with me now Here in this bundle You knew oh Daniel sir. Even if it was a monochrome Look at him now And I have seen that we was really kings Beyond my way you Pardon me, sir I let him go There was little else to do He was only hours away from his death I sat there and stared at the bundle he had left lying on my desk Stared as the pale shafts of dawn Struck fire in the red beard Stared at the golden crown Sitting too large and heavy Upon the wrinkled mummified head of Daniel drabott The man who would be king Escape is produced and directed by Norman mcdonnell Tonight we have brought you the man who would be king by Rudyard Kipling Adapted for radio by less crutchfield with editorial supervision by john dunkel Featured in tonight's cast were ben right and wilms herbert with john daner peggy wever and jack crucian special music by Ivan ditmars Next week you are trapped in the dark streets of a french town With only two remaining avenues of escape The workshop of a fearsome knife maker For the arms of a dangerous woman While behind you hunting you through the dark night Swirls a mob of men Eager for your capture Next week we escape with vincent starrett's strange story the fugitive Good night then until this same time next week when once again we offer you escape This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system